Guarding mechanism for spark-plugs of internal-combustion engines



C. T. HOLST. GUARDING MECHANISM FORSPARK PLUGS OF INTERNAL COMBUS TION ENGINES.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1919. 1,353,959.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oHAnLEs r. HO-LST, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF r WILLIAM J. CULL'ERTON, or CHICAGO, rumors.

GUARDING MECHANISM FOR SPARK-PLUGS OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.'

Application filed October 13, 1919.

ing the spark plugs thereof. My invention has for a specific purpose the provision of means whereby a spark plug of an internal combustion engine may be rendered inoperative to prevent the running of the en ine. When the engine is thus embodied 1t is particularly adapted for use in preventing the theft of automobiles Whose powerplants include internal combustion engines and their spark plugs.

In practising my invention Iemploy a container for the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine, this container being formed with a container closing portion whereby'the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible. Said container closing portion is provided with looking means for holding it in closed position. to guard the spark plug from tamperin A spark plug short circuiting contact 1s carried by the container closing portionto be in short circuiting engagement with the current conductor upon the outer end of the spark plug when said container is closed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the aforesaid container closing portion constitutes a body portion of the container and houses a plurality of contact springs which are carried thereby,

these sprin s being of differing lengths to be engagea le', when the container is closed,-

with the current conductor upon the outer end of one of a plurality of spark plugs of differing lengths, employed on the engine.

I will explain my inven tion more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, illustrating the equipment of my invention as applied to an internal combustion engine, a small portion of the engine being only shown for lack of space; Fi 2 is a sectional view on line of ig. 1; Fig. 3

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920. Serial No. 330,341.

is a sectional view on line 33 of,Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a plan View of a container for the spark plug as such container is preferably formed.

Like parts are indicated by similar charactors of reference throughout the different figures.

I have illustrated a portion 1 of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each equipped with a spark plug 2 that is carried by the engine and whose sparking electrodes 3 and 4 are within the explosive gas receiving portion of the engine. Each spark plug has a container for inclosing it, this container preferably comprising a lesser portion 5 mounted upon or otherwise in connection with the engine and a body portion 6. All of the body portions 6 of the containers are fixed upon a common shaft 7 whereby they may be simultaneously placed in closed positions to inclose the spark plugs or in open positions to render such spark plugs accestion 9 upon the outer end of the spark plug insulated wire 11 extending to such source of current. The electrode 12 complemental to the electrode is grounded upon the frame of the engine as are also the swinging container portion 6 and the contacting springs 8 carried thereby.

Whenever the engine is to be rendered inoperative the oontainer is closed so that the spark plug conductor 9 and tlfe sparking electrode 10 are grounded and short circuited.

Some suitable locking means is employed. for holding the container closing portion 6 inclosed position. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the locking structure is mounted on the front side of the dash board 13; in the event that the device of my invention is applied to an automobile. Locking mechanism has a container whose body portion 14 is mounted upon the dash board and whose lid portion 15 is pivoted to the body portion at 16 and is held fast with respect thereto by means of screws 17. A rack frame 18 is mounted to slide up and down in the container 14, 15, this rack frame carrying a knob 19 upon the exterior of the container 14, 15 whereby this rack frame may be moved up; and down. The stem of the knob passes through the upright slot 20 in the container portion 15. The rack frame carries a rack 21 that engages a segmental pinion 22 fixed upon the shaft 7. When the knob 19 is down the body portions 6 of the containers 5, 6 are open as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 to remove the short circuiting springs 8 that are engageable with the spark plug conductors 9 to remove the short circuits from the spark plugs to permit the engine to run. When said knob is uppermost the container closing body portion 6- is in closed position as shown in full l1nes in Fig. 3. One side of the rack frame 18 has openings 23, 24 extending thcrethrough.

When the rack frame is in its uppermost po-' sition, at which time the spark plug container is closed,'the opening 23 is in register with the recess 25 formed inthe body portion 14 and the container 1414. When the swinging body portion 6 of the plug container is fully open the opening 24 in the rack frame is in register with the recess 25. T he cover portion 15 of the container 1415 carries a lock 26. The bolt 27 of this look is alinement with the recess 25 and may be passed into this recess through the opening 23 when the spark plug containers are tobe closed and the spark plugs therein are to be short circuited to prevent the engine from operating, or through the opening 24 when the spark plug containers are to be opened and the short circuits upon the spark plugs are to be removed in order to permit the engine to operate. The upper end of the rack frame 18 is forwardly defiected to-provide a curved space for the screw 28 that takes part in fastening the container portion 14 to the dash board. When the bolt of the lock is in'locking position the container portion 15 cannot be swung upon its hin e 16 even though the screw 17 be removed. T e

lower portion 18 of the rack bar is thickened substantially to span the space between the container portions 1415 thereby to give the rack bar proper direction of movement.

While I have herein shown andparticularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but

havingthus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. An internal combustion engine having a spark plug carried by the engine and having sparking electrodes within the explosive gas receiving portion of the engine; of a container 'for the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine and formed with a swinging body portion and a complemental closure portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible; a lock for holding the swinging body portion in closed position; and a plurality of contacts carried by the swingingbody portion and of differing lengths to be engageable, whenthe container is closed, with the current conductor upon the outer end of one of a plurality of spark plugs of differing lengths, employed as the aforesaid spark plug, said contacts being in spark plug short circuiting connection. i

2. An internal combustion engine having I a spark plug carried by the engine and havand of differing lengths to be engageable, 100

when the container is closed, with the current conductor upon the outer end of one of aplurality of spark plugs, said contacts being in spark plug short circuiting connection.

3. An internal combustion engine ,having a spark plug carried by the engine and having sparking electrodes within the explosive gas receiving portion of the engine;

of a container forthe park plug mounted 110 in connection with the engine and. formed with a swinging body portion and a complex mental closure portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible a lock for holding the swinging body 115 portion in closed position; and a spark plug short circuiting contact carried b the swinging body portion to bein short circuiting engagement with the current conductor upon the outer end of the spark plug when 120 said container is closed.

4. An internal combustion engine havinga spark plug carried by the engine and having sparking electrodes within the explosive gas recelving portion of the engine; of 125 a container vfor the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine and formed with a swinging container closing portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible; alock for holding the 130 swinging container closing portion in closed position; and a spark plug-short circuitmg contact carried by the swinging container closing portion to be in short circuiting ena spark plug carried by the engine and hav-' ing sparking electrodes within the explosive gas rece1v1ng portlon of the engine; of a container for the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine and formed with a container closing portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible; a lock for holding the container closing portion in closed position; and a plurality of contacts carried by the container closing portion and of, difleri'ng lengths to be engageable, when the container is closed, with the current conductor upon the outer end of one of a plurality of spark plugs, said contacts being in spark plug short circuiting connection.

6. An internal combustion engine having a spark plug carried by the engine and having sparking electrodes within the explosive gas receiving portion of the engine; of a container for the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine and formed with a container closing portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible; a lock for holding the container closing portion in closed position; and a spark plug short circuitingcontact carried by the container closing portion to be in short circuiting engagement with the current conductor upon the outer end of the spark plug when said container is closed.

7. An internal combustion engine having a spark plug carried by the engine and having sparking electrodes within the explosive gas receiving portion of the engine; of a container for the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine and formed with a swinging body portion and a complemental closure portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible; and a lockfor holding the swinging body portion in closed position.

8. An internal combustion engine having a spark plug carried by the engine and having sparking electrodes within the explosive gas receiving portion of the engine; of a container for the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine and formed with a container closing portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible; and a lock for holding the container closing portion in closed position.

9. An internal combustion engine having a spark plug carried by the engine and having sparking electrodes within the explosive gas receiving portion of the engine; of a container for the spark plug mounted in connection with the engine and formed with a containe1: closing portion whereby the spark plug may be either inclosed or made accessible; a lock for holding the container closing portion in closed position; and a spark plug short circuiting contact operated by the container closing portion to be in short circuiting engagement with the current conductor upon the outer end of the spark plug when said container is closed.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of October, A. D. 1919.

CHARLES T. HOLST. 

